Bowling ball and gripping device therefor

ABSTRACT

A hand operable bowling ball gripping device for gripping a bowling ball of conventional type which includes a handle portion and releasable ball engaging members. The ball engaging portion includes two finger gripping members which are adapted to engage the finger holes of a conventional bowling ball and a movable thumb hole engaging member which in the engaging position permits gripping the ball and which is movable to an open position to release the ball. The thumb engaging member is held in position by trigger means operated by the thumb of the bowler which is released to disengage the ball from the gripping device. The trigger means and thumb hole engaging member include cooperating cam surfaces to retain the thumb hole engaging member in the thumb hole while pressure is exerted upon the trigger means, and spring means are also included to urge the thumb hole engaging member in a normally open position. The finger gripping members may also be provided with guide means in the form of a flange cooperable with a groove in a finger hole to control the direction of roll of the released ball.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Earl E. Williams 113 S. Queen St., Shippensburg, Pa. 17257 [21] AppLNo. 727,508 [22] Filed May 8,1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [54] BOWLING BALL AND GRIPPING DEVICE THEREFOR 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl. 273/64 [51] Int. Cl A63b 43/02 [50] Field ofSearch 273/64,54, 63

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,036 11/1948 Reitsma 273/63(B)X 2,996,299 8/1961 Showers... 273/64 3,142,292 7/1964 Suchland. 273/64X 3,365,197 1/1968 Root 273/54(B) Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney Frease & Bishop ABSTRACT: A hand operable bowling ball gripping device for gripping 'a bowling ball of conventional type which includes a handle portion and releasable ball engaging members. The ball engaging portion includes two finger gripping members which are adapted to engage the finger holes of a conven- 'tional bowling ball and a movable thumb hole engaging member which in the engaging position permits gripping the ball and which is movable to an open position to release the ball. The thumb engaging member is held in position by trigger means operated by the thumb of the bowler which is released to disengage the ball from the gripping device. The trigger means and thumb hole engaging member include cooperating cam surfaces to retain the thumb hole engaging member in the thumb hole while pressure is exerted upon the trigger means, and spring means are also included to urge the thumb hole engaging member in a normally open position. The finger gripping members may also be provided with guide means in the form of a flange cooperable with a groove in a finger hole to control the direction of roll of the released ball.

BOWLING BALL AND GRIPPING DEVICE THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to bowling and more specifically the invention relates to a hand-operated device for gripping a conventional bowling ball to permit a bowler to bowl similarly to the usual manner without holding the ball in conventional manner with the fingers and thumb.

A conventional bowling ball is normally provided with three holes which are drilled therein in properly spaced relationship to accept the middle and third fingers of a bowlers hand, together with the thumb of a bowlers hand. Normal bowling practice includes approaching the foul line of the bowling alley with a three, four, or five. step deliver, swinging the ball during the delivery in the manner of a pendulum and releasing the same by permitting the thumb, which is pointed in a direction generally down the alleyto come out of the thumb hole a very short periodof time priorto the fingers coming out of the finger holes. During this procedure, the fingers normally impart an upward lifting motion to provide thespin on the ball necessary to give the bowling ball the desired hooking action as'it rolls down the bowling alley.

Other styles of delivery are sometimes used and variations on the above-mentioned style of delivery are also used. Furthermore, there are various types of grips used which include theconventional grip wherein the fingers extend into the finger holes to beyond the second knuckle, the semifinger tip grip" and the finger tip grip in which the fingers extend in theholes a shorter distance.

Because of physical reasons, many people have become unable to properly bowl. For instance, many people are atflicted with arthritis which prevents them from properly gripping a bowling ball in the desired manner. Such-afflictions may also prevent the bowler from properly releasing a ball during delivery in the desired manner. Other physical impairments may cause a bowler to be unable to grip and release the bowling ball with the desired lift. In some cases and particu larly with arthritis, the afi'liction can be so serious as to prevent the bowler from even holding the ball because of the strain the weight of the ball puts on the joints of the hand and wrist.

No satisfactory solution to this problem is available to bowlers and when the afiliction or physical impairment is serious enough, the individual is prevented from bowling. Even in those cases where the affliction or impairment is not so serious, the individual is prevented from bowling in the properly desirable manner.

Objectives, therefore, of the present invention include the provision of a hand-operated bowling ball gripping device which may be operated and used by persons having physical impairments; the provision of a bowling ball gripping device which may be used with a conventional bowling ball; the provision ofa bowling ball gripping device which will impart in use the proper desired lift; and the provision of a bowling ball gripping device which will permit individuals to bowl who might not otherwise be able to so do because of physical afi'liction or impairment These objects and advantages are obtained by the bowling ball gripping device of the present invention, the nature of which may be stated in general terms as including a body portion having handle means formed as a part thereof, finger hole engaging portions extending from the body portion and adapted to engage the conventional finger holes of a conventional bowling ball, a thumb engaging member mounted on the body and rotatable about a pivot and releasably engageable in the thumb hole of a conventional bowling ball, the

thumb engaging member being located and arranged and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present inventionillustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claim.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section of the bowling ball gripping device embodying the principles of the present invention showing in full lines the device engaging a conventional bowling ball with the movable portion thereof shown in dotted lines in open or nonengaging position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the bowling ball gripping device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the bowling ball gripping device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the bowling ball gripping device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the bowling ball gripping device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bowling ball gripping device of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the lines 7-7.

FIG. 1. I

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various FIGS. of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, a bowling ball gripping device embodying the principles of the presentinvention is generally indicated at 10 and includes body portion 11 of generally elongated shape. The body portion 11 has an elongated aperture 12 formed therethrough to provide a handle portion 13 for gripping the device with the four fingers of a hand. The lower portion 14 of body 11 is formed with a engages hole 18 which would normally receive the third or ring finger of a hand and finger engaging member 17 is positioned within a hole 19 which would normally receive the middle finger of the bowlers hand. Ball holes 18 and 19 are provided in a bowling ball 20 which is shown in cross section in FlG il. Finger hole engaging portion 17 includes a flange or guide member 21 which fits within groove 22 formed as a part of middle finger hole 19. The purpose and characteristics of the flange or guide member 21 'will be discussed in more detail below during the description of the use of the device of the present invention.

The gripping device of the invention also includes a releasably thumb engaging member which is mounted within a slot 24 formed in the front portion of body 11. The thumb engaging portion includes a thumb hole engaging member 25 which is mounted to rotate about pivot 26 and is elongated in shape and includes a thumb hole engaging portion 27 and a trigger engaging portion 28. The thumb engaging member 25 is located in such a position, as shown in FIG. 1, so that when the grip engages the finger and thumb holes of a ball, it is spaced to fit the span which has been drilled between finger holes 18 and 19 and thumb hole 29. Thus, the pivot 26 is located at a position generally along the axis of thumb hole 29 and spaced a short distance above the bottom of the front portion of body member 11,

The gripping device also includes a thumb-operated release member 30 which is located at the upper front portion of body 11 and is pivotal about pivot 3!. Thumb release member 30 is mounted within a slot 24 with a thumb-operated pad 32 attached or mounted upon the top thereof.

The bottom edge of release member 30 is contoured to provide cam surfaces to hold thumb hole engaging member 25 in the proper gripping position and includes a concave curved portion 33 and a convex portion 34 which is formed continuously with concave portion 33. The concave portion 33 is formed to conform to the curved surface 35 at the upper end 28 of thumb hole engaging member 25. A second concave portion 36 is formed on the lower portion of release member 30 continuously with convex portion 34 to permit passage of the upper end 28 of thumb engaging member 25 when the device is in open position. A curved slot 37 is formed in the front of release member 30 to restrain rotation of release member 30 about pivot 31 by means of pin 38 which is mounted in the upper front of body 11. The thumb engaging member 25 as indicated before is rotatable about pivot 26 and is movable from an open or ball release position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and in full lines in FIG. to a closed or ball engaging and gripping position shown in FIG. 1 in full lines.

It is desirable to include a spring means 40 which is attached at 41 to thumb engaging member 25 above pivot 26 and is attached at its other end to any suitable engaging means such as screw 42 which may be provided with an eyelet 43. Spring 40 may pass as shown in the drawings through a hole 44 formed longitudinally in the lower portion of body 11. The spring being under tension will tend to urge the thumb engaging member 25 in the open or ball release position when no pressure is applied to the release member 30.

In the ball engaging position, as shown in FIG. 1, finger hole engaging members 16 and 17 are located within finger holes 18 and 19, the lower surface of bottom portion 14 rests upon the span of the ball between finger holes 18 and 19 and thumb hole 29 and the thumb hole engaging member 27 is positioned within thumb hole 29. Because the holes 29 and 18 and 19 are drilled with their axes pointing generally toward the center of the ball, and because finger engaging members 16 and 17 extend in a direction generally parallel to the axes of their respective holes and thumb engaging member 25 is positioned extending in a direction generally parallel to the axes of thumb hole 29, the three hole engaging members 16, 17 and 25 tend to grip the ball in clamplike fashion so long as thumb engaging member 25 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1.

The thumb engaging member 25 is maintained in this position by exerting pressure downwardly upon pad 32 so that surface 33 engages surface 35 of thumb engaging member 25 and prevents rotation of member 25 by convex portion 34 blocking rotational movement of thumb engaging member 25. If no pressure is applied to pad 32 to urge release member 30 in a downward direction, spring member 40 or the natural weight of the ball will permit bothrelease member 30 and thumb engaging member 25 to rotate in a clockwise direction with thumb hole engaging portion 27 slipping out of thumb hole 29.

To use the device, a bowler grasps handle portion 13 with the four fingers of his hand and places his thumb on pad 32. Finger engaging portions 16 and 17 are inserted in the respective finger holes of a bowling ball. The thumb engaging portion 27 which may be in the position shown in FIG. 5 is inserted in the ball thumb hole and urged into the position shown in FIG. 1 by moving the entire gripping device assembly toward the ball, while the ball may be resting upon the usual ball rack located in bowling alleys. Downward pressure is then exerted on pad 32 to hold thumb engaging member 25 in the position shown in FIG. 1 as described above.

The ball may be lifted and will not be disengaged from the gripping device so long as pressure is maintained on pad 32. The bowler may then make a normal delivery with his thumb pointing in a direction generally down the alley and at the time he wishes to release the ball during delivery, he releases pressure from pad 32 which permits rotation of thumb engaging member 25. Thumb engaging portion 27 will slide out on the thumb hole and a few moments later finger engaging portions 16 and 17 will become disengaged from their holes while at the same time providing the desired lift to the bowling ball. Thus, finger engaging portions 16 and 17 act in a manner similar to the fingers of a hand, and thumb engaging member 25 acts in a manner similar to the thumb during a bowling ball delivery.

Referring specifically to FIG. 7, finger hole engaging member 17 may be provided with a flange or guide member 21 which conforms to a groove 22 which may be formed in finger hole 19. The purpose of this flange or guide member is to impart the desired spin on the bowling ball during delivery. In other words, as the ball becomes disengaged from the finger-engaged portions, guide member 21 will direct the direction of rotation of the bowling ball as it rolls down the alley. The desired hook can thus be more readily achieved than if no guide were provided on finger engaging member 17.

The bowling ball gripping device as thus described does not impart an undue amount of strain upon the fingers and thumb of the user and thus enables a bowler who may have a physical impairment or affliction to use the gripping device of the present invention and roll and bowling ball with approximately the same style of delivery, the same fit and the same release as with the hand alone. Further with repeated practice and use, the bowling ball gripping device becomes quite easy to use and does not interfere in any way with the normal bowling delivery.

The exact angle of projection of the finger engaging member 16 and thumb engaging member 23 can be predetermined to impart to the bowling ball the desired style of delivery or roll. That is, the device can be designed to roll a straight ball, or to roll a hook ball, or a backup ball which rolls from left to right for a right-handed person.

The thumb hole engaging portion 27 has a configuration so that it will easily slide in and out of a thumb hole when no pressure is applied to pad 32 to hold thumb engaging member 25 shown in the position in FIG. 1. Thus, the outer surface 45 is curved to permit clearance as the thumb hole engaging portion 27 slips in and out of thumb engaging portion 29. Further, curved surface 45 acts as a cam to rotate thumb engaging member 25 in a counterclockwise direction while the device is being inserted to grip the bowling ball. The only action needed on the part of a bowler when gripping the ball is to insert the finger engaging members 16 and 17 in their respective finger holes of the bowling ball and press downwardly on the handle. This will tend to insert the thumb hole engaging portion 27 in its proper position within the thumb hole 29 and as mentioned above, this member is maintained in this position by applying pressure to pad 32 which prevents clockwise rotation of thumb engaging member 25.

It should be noted that the device shown and illustrated in the drawings and described above includes two finger hole engaging members and a thumb hole engaging member which are designed to fit the conventional bowling ball. It should be appreciated, however, that three finger hole engaging members could be provided if desired or a single member could be provided in the general location of the finger hole engaging members 16 and 17.

The device as shown in the drawings, however, can be used with a standard bowling ball without further alterations, provided guide means 21 is not used on finger engaging member 17. The device would have to be properly measured to fit the span between the finger holes and the thumb hole as such dimensions are not standard and are normally measured to suit the dimensions of the individual bowlers hand. It can, therefore, be readily seen that the gripping device of the present invention can be provided in a variety of sizes to accommodate the whole range of conventional bowling balls normally found in a bowling alley or the device can be provided to fit an individuals bowling ball.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the particular components shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved bowling ball gripping device is assembled and operated, the advantageous new and useful results obtained, the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth inthe appended claim.

lclaim:

1. A bowling ball having a thumb hole and a pair of finger holes formed therein, the finger holes spaced a distance from the thumb hole, one of said finger holes being provided with a groove; gripping means for releasably gripping the bowling ball including a body formed with an elongated aperture and having front and rear portions and top and bottom portions; the bottom portion having a curved surface conforming to the curve of the bowling ball between the spaced thumb hole and finger holes; finger hole engaging members extending from the bottom body portion and engaging the finger holes of the bowling ball, one of said finger members being formed with a flange complementary with the finger hole groove, the groove and flange being located to impart a desired rotational direction to the ball when released; a releasable thumb hole engaging member rotatably mounted on the front portion of the body and movable from closed gripping position to open position; said thumb hole engaging member having a rounded upper end and a lower thumb hole engaging portion which engages the bowling ball thumb hole; a thumb-operated release member rotatably mounted on the top body portion including a bottom edge having a concave curved portion to engage the upper end of the thumb hole member to hold the thumb hole member in gripping position and a curved convex portion formed continuous with said concave portion; and spring means mounted within the body and attached to the thumb hole engaging member to urge said thumb hole engaging member toward the open position. 

1. A bowling ball having a thumb hole and a pair of finger holes formed therein, the finger holes spaced a distance from the thumb hole, one of said finger holes being provided with a groove; gripping means for releasably gripping the bowling ball including a body formed with an elongated aperture and having front and rear portions and top and bottom portions; the bottom portion having a curved surface conforming to the curve of the bowling ball between the spaced thumb hole and finger holes; finger hole engaging members extending from the bottom body portion and engaging the finger holes of the bowling ball, one of said finger members being formed with a flange complementary with the finger hole groove, the groove and flange being located to impart a desired rotational direction to the ball when released; a releasable thumb hole engaging member rotatably mounted on the front portion of the body and movable from closed gripping position to open position; said thumb hole engaging member having a rounded upper end and a lower thumb hole engaging portion which engages the bowling ball thumb hole; a thumb-operated release member rotatably mounted on the top body portion including a bottom edge having a concave curved portion to engage the upper end of the thumb hole member to hold the thumb hole member in gripping position and a curved convex portion formed continuous with said concave portion; and spring means mounted within the body and attached to the thumb hole engaging member to urge said thumb hole engaging member toward the open position. 